FNG, do you really have a plan to buy a spitfire? If so you must be very rich. I have a plan to get one too but it relies on me winning the lottery or finding buried treasure. I agree that a MKIX is best because the later ones with Griffon engines lack the classic spitfire look and the MK1s lack power (and probably availability).. .I have a ten year plan too but at the end of it I will be at the poorest point in my life but I will be a flying instructor: 3 years university, 6 years boring but decently paid job, 1-2 years spending savings on being a flying instructor.. .So, ten years from now I will probably be in debt but if I do have several hundred thousand pounds ( or euros?) kicking about I couldnt think of anything better to spend it on than a share in a spitfire. . .Which raises an interesting question: What would it's annual maintenance costs probably be? And what would it's hourly running costs be and how much fuel would it use per hour (in gallons)?
By the way, on a totally unrelated topic: I hate winter "flying". I havent flown for more than 2 months despite having booked every week and I won't be flying any time soon either because although high pressure is coming along for the weekend I just happened to be unable to book for this weekend!